Gerrit Dou

Gerrit Dou was a Dutch painter born on April 7, 1613, in Leiden, and he died on February 9, 1675, in the same city. He was a prominent figure in the Dutch Golden Age of painting and is best known for his meticulous and finely detailed genre scenes. Dou was a pupil of Rembrandt, and his work is characterized by its exquisite attention to detail and the use of chiaroscuro, which he adapted from his master. He became the leading artist of the Leiden fijnschilders, a group known for their highly finished and detailed small-scale paintings. Dou's impact on the art world was significant, as he set a standard for precision and refinement that influenced subsequent generations of Dutch painters. His works were highly sought after during his lifetime, and he enjoyed considerable success and patronage.